Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-04-14

A majority of the committee making
the Investigation (Kennon and DuncaH)
are Democrats. The most serious charge
made against the commissioners is that,
in travelling. they were not entitled to
an allowance for car fare.
The law fixing the compensation of
commissioners reads:
Each county commissioner shall be al
lowed three dollars Tor each day that he is
employed in his official duties, and five cents
per mile for his necessary travel for each
regular OF called session, not exceeding one
session per month, or twelve in any one year,
and five cents per mile when travelling within
their respective counties on official business,
to be paid out of the comfy treasury, OF the
warrant of the county auditor. Here follow
provisions for Hamilton and OtLer counties,
not Necessary to copy here. Each commits
sioner in all other counties Tor his Sc; vices,
when necessarily engaged in attending to the
business of the county pertaining to his Office
under the direction of the board, other than
in attending regular or called sessions Of the
board, and when necessary ID travel on Ottl>
cial business out Of his county, shall be a.
lowed in addition to his compensation and
mileage as hereinbefore provided, any other
reasonable and necessary expense actually
paid in the discharge of his official duty, and
each commissioner shall present an itemzed
statement Of his account for per diem, mileage,
services and expenses as aforesaid"
We have laid down the proposition
that the compensation received by the
commissioners is pitiful and beggarly in
the extreme, when the labor and respon-
sibility devolviDg upon them is coDsid
cred but We have no disposition, nor is
it necessary. to excuse them in the least,
if they have demanded and received
more than they deemed they were law-
fully entitled to. The commissioners
were advised by the Attorney General
of the State that they were autbOriZ d
to charge for car fare, in addition TO
mileage-they were so advised by Pros
ecuting Attorney Mitchell, and by Pros
ecuting Attorney n. K. Kennon their
predecessors bad made like claims
against the county, which had been ap-
proved and audited by d Democrat
ic Auditor. as were those OF the present
board. The com roissioners have acted
in good faith, and are paid as are com
missioDers of all other counties of the
State.
There may honest difference of opin-
ion as to the meaning of the law quoted
above. The weight of opinion SO far
expressed sustains the commissioners,
'hy large majority" If MIR. KeDUon.
committee man, is to be quoted against
the commissioners. we put against him
Mr.. KennOn. the Prosecuting Attorney,
and ex-officiO the legal adviser of the
commissioners.
The law. it will be observed, makes Il
distinction as to compensation. The
Legislature evidently meant. when EN-
ployed at the county seat. to give them
per diem AMI mileage oalS but wien
required TO go elsewhere in the county.
or beyond the limits of the county on pub
lie business, that they shall be allowed
IN ADDITION to compensation per diem
and mileage as hereinbefore provided.
any other reasonable and necessary erpense nc
tuaJty paid in the discharge of official
duty"
Under this provision, the commission
ers were advised by able lawyers that
railroad fare was a part of the reason
able AM necessary expense actually
paid" for which they were entitled to
be reimbursed. The amount received
was small, and we are of opinion the
public will look upon their arraignment.
under the circumstances, Us a small
matter.
Objection is made.to an order to Com
missioner Cope to visit and inspect the
material going into the new court house,